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Southern Baptists condemn policy shift on gay Boy Scouts

Bill Chappell | NPR

Jennifer Tyrrell of Bridgeport, Ohio, hugs Pascal Tessier, 16, of Kensington, Maryland, at a news conference held at the Great Wolf Lodge May 23, 2013 in Grapevine, Texas. The Boy Scouts of America ended its policy of prohibitting openly gay youths from participating in Scout activities, while leaving intact its ban on gay adults and leaders. Stewart House/Getty Images

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The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution at its annual meeting Wednesday to condemn the Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow openly gay boys to become Scouts. The resolution, which did not receive unanimous support, stops short of requiring member churches to break with the organization.

"The resolution affirmed the denomination's belief that homosexuality is immoral, and condemned the decision by the Boy Scouts of America to allow openly gay boys to become Scouts," reports Carrie Feibel of member station KUHF.

At the meeting of about 5,000 Southern Baptists in Houston, Texas, Charlie Dale, pastor of the Indian Springs First Baptist Church in Alabama, spoke against the Boy Scouts resolution.

Dale believes that "boys who think they are gay are probably confused and need help," Feibel reports.

"Such a boy needs our love. So let's bring him in, show him what real Biblical manhood is about. And love him," Dale said.

"The Boy Scouts has deep ties to churches all over the country, with about 70 percent of the group's more than 100,000 units chartered by faith-based organizations," Reuters reports. "Some 108,000 Boy Scouts in nearly 4,000 units are sponsored by Baptist churches, according to the Boy Scouts website."

The Southern Baptist Convention's membership includes 45,000 churches, according to the organization. It is concluding its annual meeting today.